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The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography is a collection of 57,000 life stories of people who’ve shaped British history and culture, including all the great names in English literature who died in or before 2005.
The Dictionary offers concise, authoritative biographies by specialist authors. It’s therefore an ideal way to learn about writers whose books feature in a reading group. The Oxford DNB is freely available via nearly all public libraries in the UK, with most offering ‘remote access’. This allows library members to log-in—free and anywhere with internet connection—using their library card number.
Ways to use the Oxford DNB:
- Expert guides to great writers
- Famous names in contemporary fiction
- Literary groups in history
- Words in your ear: writers’ podcast
The Oxford DNB offers life stories of Britain’s best-known novelists, poets, dramatists, and short story writers. Biographies explain a writer’s upbringing, personal life, work, reputation, and legacy. Entries are by specialist authors who often distil a lifetime’s research into a concise, readable guide.
Highlighted names are available from this page; all biographies are accessible online, at home, via your local public or university/college library. Within the ODNB you can search by name or for writers by date, gender, and place.
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Many modern novels take historical individuals as their subjects. The Oxford DNB allows you to learn more about these lives in works such as:
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As well as individual writers, the Oxford DNB has essays on famous literary networks. Examples include the:
New groups are added to the ODNB every May and October, with a full list available for subscribers.
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The Oxford DNB also offers a free, twice monthly podcast, highlighting topical and popular lives from the dictionary. Many episodes feature well-known writers, including:
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- James Murray, first editor of the OED
- Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond
- Alice Liddell, prototype of Alice (in Wonderland)
- Roger Hargreaves, Mr Men creator
- Barbara Cartland, romantic novelist
- Roald Dahl, children’s writer
- Helene Hanff, of 84 Charing Cross Rd
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Free access to these and other podcast episodes is available, with new lives released on alternate Wednesdays. Future literary lives will include Douglas Adams, Philip Larkin, and Angela Carter.
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> About the Oxford DNB
> Sign up for a free Life of the Day or biography podcast
>More ODNB resources: for teachers and students and librarians
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